up before

up before (someone or something)

1. Standing, appearing, or presented in front of someone or something, especially a person or body of authority. He was brought up before the judge for yet another misdemeanor. I have to go up before a panel of professors to defend my thesis.

2. Awake before a certain hour or point in time. This is the first time I've been up before noon all summer! I'd better get to bed. I have to be up before 6 AM tomorrow.

3. Awake before another person or animal. Please don't make too much noise if you're getting up before me in the morning. I'm a farmer, so most mornings I'm up before even the birds.

4. Awake before something happens. I love being up before the sun rises. Make sure you're up before the airport shuttle leaves, or you'll be stranded on the island.

See also: before, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*up before someone

Fig. standing in front of someone to receive something. (Especially in front of a judge. *Typically: be ~; come ~; stand ~.) Have you been up before me before? I have never been up before any judge.

See also: before, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

up before somebody/something

appearing in front of somebody in authority for a judgement to be made about something that you have done: He came up before the local magistrate for speeding.

See also: before, somebody, something, up

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017